System of identification



March 7, 1944.

A. s. CHALMERS 2,343,746

SYSTEM OF IDENTIFICATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed Aug. 22, 194.?

VERTIME "x514 I N V EN TOR. flndrew Burr (/zalmrs BY W March 7, 1944.

- A. B. CHALMERS SYSTEM OF IDENTIFICATION Filed Aug. 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 THLVERTIME v, INVENTOR. flnarm/ fiarr film/mils BY W 600;

HTTO/PNEY Patented Mar. 7, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SYSTEM OF IDENTIFICATION Andrew Burr Chalmers, Bloomfield, N. J.

Application August 22, 1942, Serial No. 455,725

1 Claim.

ployee with a badge carrying a. symbol, such as a photograph of the employee, which badge constitutes the identification means. Under that system the employee carries the badge away with him when he leaves work and, consequently, there I is an opportunity for an unauthorized person to enter the plant by substituting a, different photograph on the badge or another badge. Also, that system has the result that practically no attempt is made to critically check up the photograph on the badge with the appearance of the employee because the mere presence of the badge on the coat of the worker is apt to be considered sufficient evidence that he has a right to enter the factory gate.

The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby a more critical comparison, between the photograph on the badge and the person entitled to use such badge, will be enforced, and whereby also the employee will not be permitted to take his badge home, so that no substitution of photographs or badges will be possible.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown in a concrete and preferred form in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a cabinet embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a, vertical sectional view substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a, horizontal sectional view substantially on the plane of irregular line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view substantially on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail view in front elevation of the employees badge;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. '7 is a detail sectional view in rear elevation of the master badge with the employees badge in position thereon I indicates a cabinet which is provided with any number of holders or pockets 2, depending upon the number of employees that work in the particular place. Each holder 2 is in the form of a guideway to receive what is here, for the sake of convenience, called a master badge 3. This master badge can, for example, he made of sheet material and carries a symbol 4, here a photograph of the employee, and may, in addition thereto, carry other data 5 relating to said employee. Above symbol 4 there may be a designating number or indication 6, the function of which will appear later on. At the lower end of said master badge are projections 1 which ride in slots 8 of the holder. To prevent the complete withdrawal or removal of said master badge from the holder, slots 8 are closed at their upper ends 9, and, to limit the downward movement of said master badge in the holder, said slots 8 are also closed at their lower ends by latches l0, which will engage projections 1. Although complete removal of the master badge from the holderis prevented in the manner described above, it will be understood that the cabinet can be opened from the back by means of door ll, whereupon latches Ill can be disengaged and the master badge withdrawn to permit removal and insertion of a new symbol or photograph 4.

' The master badge, at its rear face, is provided with guides l2, adapted to receive what is here, for the sake of convenience, called the employees badge l3, and this employees badge carries a symbol or photograph l4 that corresponds to symbol 4 onthe master badge. It will be observed that the master badge is movable or adjustable in holder 2 by reason of an up-anddown sliding motion, and that the employees badge can be inserted in guides 12 by sliding it at an angle to or transversely of the up-and-down movement of the master badge in the holder. It

'will further be observed that the master badge,

when in its lower position in the holder,- will conceal symbol 4 but that the number of designation 6 at the top will be exposed and, also, that the employees badge cannot, by reason of sidewalls l5 of the holder 2, be removed from the master badge when the latter is in its lower position but that, when the master badge is moved into its upper position, symbol 4 is exposed and the employees badge can be removed therefrom.

It will now be understood that, when the employee appears at the gate, he will give his designating number that corresponds to the designation 6 at the top of the master badge. Thereupon the person in charge will lift the master badge bearing the proper indication 6, thereby exposing photograph 4 and permitting him to remove employees badge l3. In so doing, there will be a visual comparison of the corresponding symbols 4 and I4 with each other and with the person requesting the employees badge. Everything being in proper form, the employee will receive his badge l3 and will be permitted to enter the gate of the factory. When the employee checks out, he will present his employee's badge to the person in charge at the gate, who will thereupon lift the corresponding master badge to its upper position, and will verify photographs 4 and H with each other and with the appearance of the employee. If everything is in order, the employees badge is then inserted in guides l2 of the master badge, the latter is dropped back into its lowermost position, and the employee is permitted leave the factory.

After the employees have left the plant, it is important to know if all of them have checked out properly and returned their badges. To enable the gatekeeper to quickly ascertain this without the necessity of lifting each master badge, there is provided a cutout portion or window I 6 in the master badge at its normally visible portion adjacent indication 6, whereby a corner or part I! of the employees badge is exposed to view if in position or its absence noted if the employees badge has not been returned. If the employees badge is missing, an investigation can be made immediately. But, to prevent unnecessary investigations, such as in cases where an employee is to work overtime, a signal card 18 will previously have been sent from the oifice to indicate that fact, and such card will have been placed in exposed portion or signal space 9 of the master badge and will thus satisfactorily account for the absence of the employees badge and will indicate that the employee is rightfully within the plant. Conversely, if, after all the employees are supposed to be at work, it is desired to check those that are absent, the presence of a particular employees badge in position on the master badge will indicate that such employee is not present and that fact can then be reported to the office of the plant.

It is particularly desired to point out the flexibility of the system, and that, with the construction disclosed, a number of different sets of rules, depending upon the particular needs of a plant, can be used and that it is not desired to limit the invention to the display of any particular indication or signal. It will be obvious, for instance, that window l6, being always visible, will enable the gatekeeper or other person in authority to rapidly check, at all times, the presence or absence of employee badges, and that the report of the gatekeeper will act as a check on the records of the foreman and will render useless the punching of a time card by other than the proper employee and thus prevent payroll padding. Signal space H] can be used for the purpose of receiving any card that will denote a deviation from the usual routine, not only as to overtime, early arrival" or the lik but can also be used to indicate that a particular employee is to be detained for examination or arrest.

So far as the record photo 4 and the master badge are concerned, it will be seen that:

a. It permits the exit of an employee who may have lost his employee badge inside the plant because a direct comparison can be made between the record photo and the face of the employee.

I It renders useless any attempt to substitute one master badge for another, because comparison between master badge and employee's badge will reveal the facial discrepancy.

c. Insures detection of any person who attempts to leave the plant by producing a counterieit employee's badge having a duplicate number corresponding to indication 6 on the master badge, but carrying a photo differing from that on the master badge because a comparison of photos 4 and M will reveal the discrepancy.

I claim:

In a system of identification, a holder to movably receive a master badge carrying an employees badge; a master badge, to removably receive an employees badge, mounted to move in said holder from one position to another but normally incapable of complete withdrawal therefrom, said master badge carrying an identification symbol that is concealed when the master badge occupies one position and exposed when it occupies another position and said master badge having a window that is visible when the identification symbol is concealed; an employees badge removably mounted in rear of said master badge and partly exposed through the window aforesaid when the symbol of the master badge is concealed and having an identification symbol corresponding to that carried by the master badge which symbol is exposed upon removal of said employees badge from the master badge; and means to prevent removal of said employee's badge from said master badge except when the master badge has been moved into and occupies a position in which the symbol of the master badge is exposed.

ANDREW BURR CHALMERS. 

